Pair of pivotally mounted jumping sticks



Jan. 20, 1970 RUBIN 3,490,767

PAIR OF PIVOTALLY MOUNTED J UMPING STICKS Filed Aug. 7, 1967 INVENTOR MILTON A. RUBIN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,490,767 PAIR OF PIVOTALLY MOUNTED JUMPING STICKS Milton A. Rubin, 750 Cherry Lane, Olivette, Mo. 63132 Filed Aug. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 658,904

Int. Cl. A63b /22 US. Cl. 272-74 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game comprising a pair of rods loosely connected at one end to a base plate and with the other ends being free for grasping by a player to manipulate said rods in a preferably rhythmic manner for a second players jumping in response to the movement of said rods; there being a sounding board upon which the rods may be struck during manipulation for creating a beat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to games and, more particularly, to an apparatus which may be manipulated by one player so that another player may engage in a jumping exercise. Heretofore, with childrens jumping games, there has been consistently required the services of at least two individuals for manipulating the jumping obstacle, whether the same be a rope or jumping sticks; the third player being located between the said individuals for jumping in response to movement of the particular device. Thus, by the present invention the e is obviated the need for the services of a second supporting individual so that the same beneficial, as well as enjoyable, activity may be achieved by use of the present invention with only one individual controlling the movement of the jumping obstacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a game of the jumping type wherein a pair of jumping obstacles may be easily manipulated by one individual for the jumping exercise of another individual.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game of the type stated wherein the jumping obstacles are adapted for a variety of movements so as to lend interest, as well as variety in the performance of the game.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a game of the type stated which is adapted to create an aural signal upon manipulation of the jumping obstacles so as to create a beat for the corresponding rhythmic movement of the jumping player.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a game which is comprised of a simplicity of parts; which may be produced in knock-down fashion for easy assembly; which is economical to manufacture; and which is reliable and durable in usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a game constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating the rods in two positions attained during usage.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the base plate. FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the sounding board. FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of one of the rods.

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FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the game in position of use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by reference character to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generally designates a game comprising a pair of rods 1, 1' being preferably formed of lightweight tubular stock, such as aluminum, plastic, bamboo, or the like. Fixed in the forward end of each rod 1, 1 is an eyelet 2, the vertical axis of the opening of each eyelet being normal to the longitudinal axis of the related rod when the latter is in playing position. Said eyelets 2 are adapted to loosely engage the related rod 1, 1' to a hook 3, 3', respectively, mounted at their lower ends within a base plate 4 and projecting upwardly therefrom. Each hook 3, 3' comprises a vertical stem 5 of relatively reduced diameter to the opening of the related eyelet 2 and a horizontal detent arm 6 at its upper end to inhibit accidental disengagement of the related eyelet from the associated stem 5. As may best be seen in FIGURE 2, hooks 3, 3' are presented in spaced, parallel relationship upon base plate 4 an opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof. The mutual spacing of hooks 3,3 will thus control the relationship of rods 1,1 to each other. Base plate 4, although shown as being of octagonal configuration, may be of any suitable design and should be of sufficient weight for stability of positionment during usage. Base plate 4 may rest upon any suitable support surface, although the same is primarily designed for disposition upon a floor or the ground.

The rearward or eyelet-remote end of each rod 1, 1 is free and incorporates integral handle portions, as at 7, 7', respectively, for facile gripping by the player who will manipulate or operate rods 1, 1 during usage of game A.

Disposed in co-planar relationship to base plate 4 is a preferably narrow, relatively elongate sounding board 8 for disposition beneath the portions of rods 1, 1 immediately forwardly of handle 7, 7'. Said board 8 is of like thickness as base plate 4 so that when rods 1, 1' are rested thereon the same will be in planar parallel relationship to the support surface. The thickness of board 8 also permits of ease of grasping of handles 7, 7 which are thereby elevated above the support surface. The space between sounding board 8 and base plate 4 defines the jumping area wherein will be located the player, as indicated at I, who will attempt to jump to avoid rods 1, 1 as the same are operated.

Provided on each rod 1, 1' in the portion thereof overlying sounding board 8, are encircling bands 9, 9' which are desirably of metal so as to cause sound production when brought into striking contact with board 8. Said board 8 has applied on its upwardly directed surface spaced apart strip-like zones, indicated generally 2, which may be of metal or plastic material so that when struck by bands 9, 9' will enhance the volume of the sound produced. Said zones 2 may be arranged as shown in FIGURE 3 so as to present inner zones 10, 10 and outer zones 11, 11'. The said inner zones 10, 10' will be axially aligned with hooks 3, 3' so that when rods 1, 1' are resting thereon the same will be parallel.

It will be seen that rods 1, 1' may be easily engaged upon the related hook 3 by a rocking or tilting action so that the associated eyelet 2 may move over detent 6 and thence downwardly about stem 5. The relationship of eyelets 2 to their related hooks 3, 3 is such as to permit of movement in both a horizontal, as well as a vertical, plane with the detent 6 and base plate 4 serving to limit the extent of vertical movement.

In operation, one of the players, as indicated at R, will be located rearwardly of sounding board 8 for grasping of handles 7, 7', while the jumping player I is positioned Within the jumping area. Player R may then move rods 1, 1' through any predetermined pattern of movement to cause player I to jump responsively for avoiding contact with the said rods 1, 1'. As suggested in FIGURE 1, player R may move rods 1, 1 laterally outwardly from the respective zones 10, 10' to the outer zones 11, 11' to cause the player I to jump within the area defined thereby and then to return said rods 1, 1 to zones 10, 10' to cause player I to jump so as to straddle said rods 1, 1'.

Such movement may be elfected at any predetermined rate and by either sliding the said rods 1, 1 or by lifting same vertically a short distance, then moving same laterally, and then bringing same downwardly upon board 8. Thus, the play may be continued as long as jumping player I successfully avoids rods 1, 1'.

By effecting a limited forceful contact between bands 9, 9' and sounding board 8, but preferably within zones 2, player R can cause the development of a sound which will aurally reflect the rhythm of the movement so that player I may even control his movements with reference to sound alone. Thus, it is even possible that game A may be played with jumping player J being blindfolded.

Due to the mounting of rods 1, 1, it is apparent that extreme versatility of pattern may be accorded said rods 1, 1 during usage so as to create a multiplicity of challenges to the dexterity of jumping player I. The examples of jumping techniques rendered possible by game A is the basic jumping procedure as above described and as indicated in FIGURE 1. Also, jumping player I may take initial position with both feet on one side of one of said rods 1, 1. When player R moves the rods laterally outwardly, jumping player I may jump either between the rods 1, 1' with one or both feet touching down between same and then return to initial position as the rods are returned to starting position.

Accordingly, it will be seen that game A requires only one player to manipulate rods 1, 1 while any suitable number of players I may simultaneously jump. Game A thus provides amusement as well as exercise for people of all ages While conducing to the development of timing and physical dexterity.

It is understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the game may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. A game of jumping sticks for disposition upon a support surface, comprising a substantially fiat base plate, a pair of hook members mounted on said base plate extending upwardly thereof in normal planar relationship to the plane of said plate, each of said hook members having a vertical stem portion and a horizontal detnet portion at the upper end of said vertical portion, a pair of rods, an eyelet provided at one end of each rod for disposition surroundingly of said hook member stem, the distance between said detent portion and the upper face of said base plate being substantially greater than the thickness of said eyelet for allowing vertical movement of said rods, the diameter of said vertical portion being substantially less than the diameter of said eyelet so as to promote relatively free, generally horizontal movement of each rod about the related vertical portion, a handle member provided on the other or eyelet-remote end of each rod, and a sounding board being substantially fiat and located spacedly from said base plate, said rods being of such length that the extremities of the respective handle member are located beyond said sounding board, said base plate and said sounding board being of substantially like thickness so that when said rods are disposed thereon the same will be in substantially planar parallel relationship to the support surface.

2. A game of jumping sticks as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by a metallic band disposed encirclingly about each rod in the portion of its handle member overlying said sound board, cooperating metallic strip portions mounted upon the upper face of said sounding board in confronting relationship to the aforesaid metallic bands so that upon striking of said sounding board by said rods the contact of the metallic bands with the metal portions will be productive of a sound permitting the development of an aurally-detectable rhythm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,105 10/1896 Ryan et a1. 2731l9 1,858,145 5/ 1932 Felardo. 3,189,346 6/1965 Miguez 272--74 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner 

